Faith Challenges: It Ain't All Comfort

"Here is something else I have learned: the fastest runners and the greatest heroes don't always win races and battles. Wisdom, intelligence, and skill don't always make you healthy, rich, or popular. We each have our own share of bad luck. None of us know when we might fall victim to a sudden disaster and find ourselves like a fish in a net or birds in a trap." Ecclesiastes 9:11-12 This is not the message our society longs to hear. We are much more interested in the concept of the Olympic competition in which we assume the best competitor will win. Somehow we yearn to believe that the best musicians are those on the popular concert circuit, the best record labels, and the front pages headlines. Then we are surprised by the likes of Susan Boyles—an unknown, dowdy, spinster who astonished both judges and audience in the program, Britain's Got Talent. A middle-aged unknown became an instant celebrity on television and the internet by reminding us that there are star...

"If you consider me a friend because of Christ, then welcome Onesimus as you would welcome me. If he has cheated you or owes you anything, charge it to my account. With my own hand I write: I, PAUL, WILL PAY YOU BACK. But don't forget that you owe me your life. My dear friend and follower of Christ our Lord, please cheer me up by doing this for me." Philemon 17-20 While Paul does not condemn slavery outright, this letter is the closest to a condemnation of the excesses and abuses associated with the institution. He condemns the patterns of injustice and mistreatment of others through illegal or legal means. What is legitimate from the standpoint of law, may not measure up to the ethical standards of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Philemon had every legal right to punish, abuse, and even put Onesimus to death for his escape as a slave. Rather than help Onesimus remain escaped as we might wish Paul to have done, Paul sent him back to his condition as a slave with this lett...

"Then Yahweh asked, 'What do you think of my servant Job? No one on earth is like him—he is truly a good person, who respects me and refuses to do evil.' 'Why shouldn't he respect you?' Satan remarked. 'You are like a wall protecting not only him, but all his property. You make him successful in whatever he does, and his flocks and herds are everywhere. Try taking away everything he owns, and he will curse you to your face.'" Job 1:8-11 These verses encapsulate the basic premise of the book of Job. If God pays us with earthly blessings for our righteousness, are we truly righteous, or are we just working to earn God's blessing, and therefore only superficially righteous? On the other hand, true character only verifiably rises to the surface when things go wrong for us. When all goes well, our truest character remains untried, untested, and therefore unknown. At heart, we want to be paid for our service to God. Deep down, we want to earn our kee...

"But don't have anything to do with stupid arguments about ancestors. And stay away from disagreements and quarrels about the Law of Moses. Such arguments are useless and senseless. Warn troublemakers once or twice. Then don't have anything else to do with them. You know that their minds are twisted, and their own sins show how guilty they are." Titus 3:9-11 Oh, the things which distract us from the important matters of faith! It is so easy to focus energy and attention on matters that seem important, but are actually secondary to the gospel. We look at the issues that concern us personally. In general, they are those issues that make us feel comfortable, "in", and grant us a special place in the context of faith, doctrine, or relationship with God. We seek assurance of our membership and status within the people of God. Without meaning to, we pit ourselves against others to place ourselves ahead of the pack. For the Jews Paul addressed in this argument, it ...

"When the other officials asked Mordecai why he disobeyed the king's command, he said, 'Because I am a Jew.' They spoke to him for several days about kneeling down, but he still refused to obey. Finally, they reported this to Haman, to find out if he would let Mordecai get away with it." Esther 3:3-4 Mordecai had good reason not to bow before Haman. It was a question of honoring Yahweh, and Yahweh alone. He also had good reason to bow to Haman. The king had issued the command that all should bow before Haman. To refuse to bow to Haman was to disobey the king. Mordecai's position was that he should bow to none but Yahweh. This stance left him in a precarious situation. He had the choice to follow his conscience before God or to follow the demands of the power structures around him. Haman was not pleased by Mordecai's decision. Haman took offense at Mordecai's sense of integrity in singularity of worship. It would be tempting to follow the lead of Naaman...

I got a call last night. I was in the middle of working on a bi-lingual wedding service. The call was from a former parishioner who had never become a member of the church I served. It went something like this: “ Pastor, a friend of mine just got picked up by ICE. He missed a hearing on his immigration status. Now he has been detained for deportation. His wife and twin babies are at a loss. Is there any support network for them?” “ Where do they live?” “ Cornelius.” “ Sorry, I don't know of anything without calling Ada Jenkins and the Latin American Coalition.” “ They are staying with us right now. She can't handle the 3-month old twins by herself. Without him working, they can't pay rent.” Okay, let's back up a little. He missed a hearing, not due to any criminal activity. It was one of those hearings with Immigration for people issued DACA papers. This young man had gone through all the screening and reporting for the DACA program. He show...

I continually hear people questioning the validity of women serving in ministry positions. Some comment that Jesus did not appoint women as disciples. Mainly, they quote a couple of verses from Paul that are out of context. If Jesus had considered women as ineligible and unworthy of positions of ministry, we should expect that to show through in his practice of ministry. We should expect the gospels to describe Jesus interacting with people in a manner consistent with God's design for the church. Let's start with a review of what John 4 should have looked like according to many perspectives on women across the centuries of human and church history.... 4: 5  In Samaria Jesus came to the town called Sychar, which is near the field Jacob gave to his son Joseph.  6  Jacob’s well was there. Jesus was tired from his long trip, so he sat down beside the well. It was about noon.  7  When a Samaritan woman came to the well to get some water, Jesus was thirsty, so be...